Typewriter tabulator stop mechanism



Dec. 26, 1950 J. F. KOCA TYPEWRITER TABULA'I'OR STOP MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1946 0 26, 1950 J. F. KOCA 2,535,358

TYPEWRITER TABULATOR STOP MECHANISM Filed March 15, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q I v IJZOEIZZ;

Dec. 26, 1950 J. F. KocA TYPEWRITER TABULATOR STOP MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March\ 15, 1946 I 1 III I Patented Dec. 26, .1950

UNITED STATES OFFICE TYPEWRITER TABULATOR STOP MECHANISM James F." Koca, "WoodstockfIl llI assig'iior to R. Allen Business Machines, Inc., Grand Rapids,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 15, 1946 Serial-Nc.'654,621

14 Claims:

This invention relates, .in general, to typewriters, but more particularly to an attachment for typewriters. More specifically, the invention relates to key-controlled stop mechanism for stopping the movement of the carriage at predetermined positions. I

Another object is to provide new and improved stop mechanism. adapted to be attached to any typewriter, or made a unitary part of newly manufactured typewriters, and which is provided with means wherebya stop maybe selectivelyset in any position, by means of a stop control key, at the will of the operator and by the actuation of a stop controlkey.

A further object is to provide improved means for setting a stop by the actuation of a oontrol'key or device, which stop is adapted to be engaged by the usual tabulating stop on the typewriter frame, to arrest the movement of the carriage when the carriage reaches a predetermined position in its movement towards the left, and which control device is also adapted to removeor withdraw the setstops at the will of the operator.

A further object is to provide an improved stop control device which is located ina convenient position at the front of themachine, and adjacent the key-board of the machine.

A-still further object is to provide a plurality of stop devices arranged along the carriage, and a control device operable 'from the front of the key-board, which control device is common to all of the stop devices.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a detail and elevation, partly in section, of a typewriter embodying this invention.

Fig.2 is a detail rearend elevation, partly-in section,-of a typewriter embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-view, in perspective, of the stops and a-portion of thestop setting'and releasing mechanism, with one of the stops in a lowered or operative position, and with the control deviceor mechanism in a neutral position.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing a stopin elevation, and the manner in which it is placed in inoperative position uponeits supporting rod.

Fig.5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the stop in its set or operative position. i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the stop actuating means.

' tending arm or end 22.

Fig.7 is a View, similar'toFig. 6, of anotherpor tion of the stop actuating means. N

Fig. 8 is a detail view taken on line 8 8, Fig. .3,

The particular typewriter herein shown for the purpose of illustration, is the popular; Woodstock typewriter, although the invention is not confined to this particular makeof machine.

The typewriter machine here illustrated embodies a'frame til, upon which a carriage l I, having a platen (not s hown) of usual construction, is mounted to move transversely of the ways 13. 1 bar It, which is circular in cross-section, extends between end plates t5 of the platen carriage, and is maintained against rotation. A series of column stops [-6 are journaled upon the bar Myand project rearwardly therefrom, 'as seen -more clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and-5; These column stops are arranged throughout;substantially thelength of the bar It, andare'laterally spaced from each other by letter or character space distances. Each columnstop 16, in the -;form-of the invention shown, preferablycomprisesa metal body portion [-1, having a circular receiving opening or bearing l8 provided; therein, through which the bar I4 extends. Theend-l!) of the body is cut out, as shown at '-2B,--and-extends into the opening 18.

The-body-ll of the stop 16 is also split 'or cut, as indicated at 2|, the'reby' -providing' a free ex The portion or leg 22 is relatively resilient or springy, and is capableof spreading a predetermined distance, so -that-it may be slipped over the rod 14.

If desiredg'the' stop; maybe provided-with an extension 2-3 "(see Fig. -1)-, which is integral there with, whereby the 'stop may bemanually shifted. These stops .-are movable'into an upward'or inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 4, or to a down ward or operable position-as shown in Fig. 5. The upward and downward movements are -lim= ited, respectively,-byan upper bar 24 and'a lower bar 25, and lateral movement of eachstop is pre vented by these bars, as they are respectively provided Without-out notchesor spaces ZB Z'I, which are in alinement, and in which the'stops l6 operate, as shown more clearly in Figs; 4 and 5.

The stops are held in either of their adjusted positions by means of a tooth 28, formed on the extension or leg 22 'of each stop; which co-operates with andis adapted to engage the opposite sides of a rib 29,-forme donthe rod I4. Due to the pivotedand yielding connection of each stop IS with the bar-l4,-the stops may be easily and readily removed and applied.

Because of the position of each stop in the alined slots 26-2'| in the bars 24 and 25, respectively, the stops are held in either of their adjusted positions, depending upon which side the tooth 28 lies with respect to the ridge 29. When a stop is moved from one of its adjusted positions to another, the tooth 28 will snap over the rib 29, and hold the stop in its new adjusted position. When a stop is in its lower position, it will engage the bottom of the slot 21, whereas when it is in its upper position, it will engage the bottom of the slot 26. The stops I6 are always in engagement with both of the bars 24 and 25, and upward and downward, as well as lateral movementof the stop is limited by these bars.

The bars 24 and 25 extend longitudinally of the carriage, and in proximity to the bar 14, the bar 25 being positioned slightly to the rear of the bar l4, and pivotally supported by brackets (Fig. 1), one of which brackets may be provided with a finger piece 3|, by which the bracket may be oscillated on the rod 14, to raise the bar 25. A stop 32 limits the movement of the finger piece in one direction. When the finger piece Si is operated, the bar 25 will be swung on its pivot, and will cause all of the stops l6 that are in a downward or operative position to be moved up to their normal inoperative position.

All of the above-referred-to parts constitute a part of the invention of my prior Patent 2,153,630, issued April 11, 1939, and are described in detail herein for the purpose of giving a clear understanding of the stop setting and releasing means, which latter constitutes the subject matter of the present invention. 7

While a specific form of stop device has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to that form, as any form or construction of stop device suitable for the purpose of this invention may be employed.

A finger or member 33 is provided for the purpose of selectively raising the stops [6 to render them inactive so as not to be engaged b the tabulating counter stop (not shown), and which counter stop is common in typewriter machines of this character, and well known in this art, for the purpose of tabulation or arresting the tabulating movement of the carriage when the tabulating key is operated or depressed.

This finger or member 33 is supported by, or forms a part of a stop operating member 34, shown more clearly in Fig. 7, and is provided with slots 35, suitably spaced from each other, and the finger 33 is preferably offset from the body portion 34, as at 35, for a purpose to be described.

A second stop operating member 37 i also provided with a finger or projection 38 at the upper end thereof, Which is preferably offset, as at 39, and the body of the member 3'! is provided with spaced slots 48. The members 34 and 31 are placed side by side, with the respective slots 35 and 48 adjacent each other, and the two are supported in the machine by means of rods or bars 4| and 42 each passing through one pair of the slots 3548. The bar 4| is supported in a stationary position, and serves to guide the members 343l in their movements, and also acts as a stop to limit the movements of the members 34 and 31.

The offset portions 36 and 39 on the respective members 34 and 3'! provide a means whereby the fingers 33 and 38 will be positioned in the same vertical plane, with the finger 33 directly beneath the finger 38. These fingers are spaced from each other a suitable distance to permit the ends of the stops [6 to pass between the fingers during the movement of the carriage, when all of the stops are in inoperative position, and so as not to interfere with the movement of the carriage under any condition.

A spring 43 is connected, b one end, to an ear 44 on the member 34, and, by its other end, to a suitable anchor 45, and tends normally to depress the finger 33 and move it away from the stops IS. A similar spring 46 is secured, by one end, to an ear 4! on the member 37, and, by its other end, to an anchor 48, and tends normally to raise the member 3'! so that the finger 38 will also be raised or moved away from the stops IS, the space between the fingers 33 and 33 being sufiicient topermit of such operations.

It will therefore be manifest that in order to move the stops Hi from the operative position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the finger 33 must be positioned beneath the predetermined stop i5, and then raised so as to engage the stop and move it from its operative position in Fig. 5, to its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, when it is desired to reverse this operation, that is, to move the stop l6 from its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 4, into an operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, the finger 38 must be lowered to contact and move the stop downwardly about its pivot on the bar I4.

In the present invention this is accomplished by means of a control or shift key 49 (Figs. 1 and 3), which is disposed in a convenient position for the operator, and in proximity to the keyboard 58 of the machine. This key 49 is connected to a rod or bar 5|, slidably mounted and extending to the rear of the machine, where it is connected, as at 52, to an arm 53, that in turn is connected to a rock shaft 54 for movement therewith, which shaft is suitably mounted (not shown).

The co-operating pairs of slots 3545 are so arranged with respect to each other to provide for the selective actuation of the stop setting and releasing members 34-37, by the common actuating bar 42.

Connected also to the shaft 54 is another arm 55, to which the bar or rod 42 is connected for movement therewith, and which bar passes through one pair of slots 3548, so that when the shaft 54 is rocked by the movement of the rod or bar 5|, the arm 55 will also be rocked, and the bar 42 will be actuated to shift the members 34-31 to control the positioning or the withdrawal of the stops 15. This is accomplished in the following manner:

The control button or key 49 (Fig. l) is in a neutral position, in full lines, as are also the fingers 33- and 38, and one of the stop devices 65 is in a down or operative position, while another stop device is shown in an up or inoperative position. Suitable means (not shown) are provided to hold the parts in such position.

The spring 46 tends normally to raise the finger 38, and the spring 43 tends normally to lower or depress the finger 33.

To set the stops to arrest the movement of the carriage at a predetermined point, the carriage is moved so that the end of the desired stop is positioned between the fingers 33 and 38, these fingers being in alinement with each other. The key or button 49 is then moved to the U position (Fig. l), which will rock the shaft 54 and, through the medium of the arm 55, the bar or rod 42 will be elevated. In the neutral position as shown in Fig. 3, this bar is at the top of the slot 35 in the member 34, andat the bottom of the slot 40 in the member -'ii"l,while the baror rod M is similarly disposed in the slots 35 and 40; that is, at the top of the slot 35, and at the bottom of the slot 40.

As these two members 34 and 3'! are independent of each other, by raising the rod or bar '42, the member 35 will be raised to elevate the :finger 33, which, contacting the end of one of the stops IE, will raise it to the position shown in Fig. 1, or sothat it will assume an inactive position, the member 31 being held stationary or in an elevated position by the Spring 46.

To position any one or' more of the stops l6, so that the carriage will be stoppedthereby, the key or button 49 is moved inwardly to the D'po sition shown in Fig. 1. This will cause the bar or rod 42 to engage the lower end of the slot 4'0 in the member 31, and lower it against the stress of the spring 66, causing the finger 38 to engage the stop [5 '(Fig. 1), which is then in a raised position, and'move it to the position shown at 16a, which is the active or operative position of'the stop, one of the stops in Fig. 3 being shown in its lowered or active positions. 1

Thus it will be seen. that by operation of the same key 59, the stops [6 may be set into operative or inoperative positions, and the stops may be selectively set, accordin to the work to be performed on the typewriter, and at the will of the operator. The finger engaging piece 3! (Fig. 1) is provided so that the bar nay be manually shifted to restore all of the set stops to inactive or inoperative positions, if desired.

The carriage embodies the usual escapement bar 55 (Fig. '2), which engages a pinion 51, and

which is swung out of engagement with the pinion by means of a shoe 58, carried by a pivotally mounted arm or lever 59, in the usual manner in machines of the type here illustrated, so as to permit the spring 66 to advance the carriage. This is effected by actuation of a key 61, which actuates'a'link e2 to actuate the lever 59, through the medium of a link or connection 63.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and inthe combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departin from the spiritof this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A typewriter embodying'a shiftable carriage, a plurality of shiftable stops for the carriage, arranged lengthwise of and movable with and with respect to said carriage, means disposed adjacent the path of movement of the stops with the car riage forselectively rendering the stops active or inactive, the said means embodying vertically spaced alined fingers bodily movable with respect to each other and between which fingers the stops are successively moved, and means common to the fingers for selectively and bodily shifting them, one with respect to the other.

2. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriag e, stops for the carriage arranged lengthwise thereof and movable with and with respect to the carriage, means for moving the stops into active and inactive positions with respect to the carriage, the said means embodying spaced fingers disposed one above the other, between which fingers the stops are movable by'the movement of the carriage, said fingers being bodily movable with respect to each other, and means common t thefingersand having a one-way connection 6 with each .fing'er for selectively. positioning the respective fingers to'render predetermined stops active or inactive.

3-. A typewriter" embodying a shiftable carriage, stops for the carriage arranged lengthwise thereof and movable with and with respect to the carriage, means for moving the stops into active and inactive positions with respect to the carriage; the said means embodyin spaced fingers disposed one above the other, between which fingers the stops are movable by the movement of the carriage, said fingers being bodily 'slidable witlrrespect to each other, and means common tothe fingers for selectively positioning the respective fingers to render predetermined stops active or inactive, the last said means embodying an operating key having a one-way connection witheach of the fingers and movableiinto a plurality of different positions.

4. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, arranged lengthwise thereof and movable with respect to the carriage, means for selectively moving the stops with respect to the carriage into active or inactive positions, the said means embodying two members disposed adjacent and movable with respect to each other, fingers individual to the members and spaced from each other, between which finger portions of said stops pass with the move rnentof thecarriage, there being slots in the said members, theslot in one member having one end thereof in overlapping relation with the slot in the other member and extending in the opposite direction from the slot in the other member, an actuating member passing through said slots, and means for shiit ing the said actuating member for selectively moving the said two members with respect to each other, for selectively positioning predetermined stops into active or inactive positions with respect to the carriage.

5. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, arranged lengthwise thereof and movable with respect to the carriage, means for seleotivelymoving the stops with respect to the carriage into active or inactive positions, the said means embodying two 'members disposed adjacent and movable with respect to each other, fingers individual to the members and spaced from each other, 'be'e tween which fingers portions of said stops pass with the movement of the carriage, there being slots in the said members, the slot in one mem her having one end thereof in overlapping rel'a tion with the slot in the other member and extending in the opposite direction from the slot in the other member, an actuating member passing through said slots, and means for shifting thesaid actuatingmember for selectively moving the said two members with respect to each other, for selectively positioning predetermined stops into active or inactivepositions with respect to the carriage, the last said means embodying a control key adapted to be selectively set-into a plurality ofdifferent positions.

6. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, pivotally mounted stops carried by'the carriage, a pair of spaced slidable fingers disposed adjacent the line of travel of the stops and movable independently of each other, between which fingers the stops move with the carriage, means tending normally to separate the fingers and move them into inactive positions with respect tosaid stops, and an actuating member common to and having a one-way conhection with each of the fingers for selectively positioning them to render said predetermined stops active or inactive.

7. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, pivotall mounted stops carried by the carriage, a pair of vertically spaced fingers disposed adjacent the line of travel of the stops,

etween which fingers the stops move with the carriage, said fingers being bodily shiftable with respect to each other, means tending normally to separate the fingers and move them into inactive positions with respect to said stops, and means common to the fingers for selectively positioning them to render said predetermined stops active or inactive, the last said means embodying an operating key adapted to be selectively set in a predetermined position.

8. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, means for selectively moving predetermined stops into and out of active position, said means embodying two members provided with slots, fingers individual to the members, between which fingers the stops are movable by the carriage, means tending normally to separate the fingers, an actuating member passin through said slots in said members, and means for shifting said actuating member for controlling the operation of said fingers, said slots being so disposed with respect to each other that said actuating member will shift one of said slotted members While the other of the slotted members is maintained against shifting movement, in either direction of relative movement of said slotted members.

9. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, means for selectively moving predetermined stops into and out of active position, said means embodying two members provided with slots, fingers individual to the members, between which fingers the stops are movable by the carriage, means tending normally to separate the fingers, an actuating member passing through said slots, means for shifting said actuating member for controlling the operation of said fingers, said slots being so disposed with respect to each other that said actuating member will shift one of said slotted members while the other of the slotted members is maintained against shifting movement, in either direction of relative movement of said slotted members, the last said means embodying a rock shaft, an arm connecting said rock shaft with said actuating member, and means for rocking said shaft.

10. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, a pair of members slidable with respect to each other, a finger carried by each of said members, said fingers being spaced one above the other and between which fingers said stops pass, there being elongated slots in said members, an actuating member passing through said slots and of a diameter considerably less than the length of the slots, spring means tending normally to separate said fingers, and means for shifting said actuating member to selectively cause the respective fingers to engage predetermined stops and move them into or out of active position, said spring means operating to relatively move said members in directions opposite to each other, to confine said actuating member between opposite ends of the sad slots, whereby upon movement of said actuating member, one of the said pair of members will be moved relatively to the other, while the said other member of the pair Will be maintained against shifting movement.

11. A typewriter embodying a shiftable carriage, stops carried by the carriage, a pair of members slidabie with respect to each other, a finger carried by each of said members, said fingers being spaced one above the other and between which fingers said stops pass, there being elongated slots in said members, an actuating member passing through said slots and of a diameter considerably less than the length of the slots, spring means tending normally to separate said fingers, and means for shifting said actuating member to selectively cause the respective fingers to engage predetermined stops and move them into or out of active position, said spring means operating to relatively move said members in directions opposite to each other, to confine said actuating member between opposite ends of the slots, whereby upon movement of said actuating member, one of the said pair of members will be moved relatively to the other, while the said other member of the pair will be maintained against shifting movement, the means for shifting said actuating member embodying a rock shaft, an operative connection between said shaft and said actuating member, and means for imparting to said rock shaft movements of predetermined extent.

12. In a typewriter, a carriage, a plurality of stop devices carried by the carriage, means for selectively setting said stop devices into active or inactive positions, said means embodying two members disposed in close proximity to each other and slidable one with respect to the other, a finger carried by each member, said fingers being spaced one above the other and adapted to respectively engage predetermined stops for actuating them, resilient means tending normally to slide said members with respect to each other in directions to separate the fingers, there being elongated slots in said members, an actuating bar extending into the slots, sa d resilient means operating to cause opposite ends of the slots to simultaneously contact said actuating bar, and means for bodily moving said actuating bar, to selectively cause the fingers to engage and move predetermined stops into predetermined selected positions.

13. In a typewriter, a carriage, a plurality of stop devices carried by the carriage, means for selectively setting said stop devices into active or inactive positions, said means embodying two members disposed in the close proximity to each other and slidable one with respect to the other, a finger carried by each member, said fingers being spaced one above the other and adapted to respectively engage predetermined stops for actuating them, resilient means tending normally to slide said members with respect to each other in directions to separate the fingers, there being elongated slots in said members, an actuating bar extending into the slots, said resilient means operating to cause opposite ends of the slots to-- simultaneously contact said actuating bar, means for bodily moving said actuating bar, to selectively cause the fingers to engage and move predetermined stops into predetermined selected positions, there being additional elongated slots in said members, and a member projecting into the last said slots for limiting the movements of said fingers, the last said member being of a dimension considerably less than the length of the last said slots.

14. In a typewriter, a carriage, a plurality of stop devices carried by the carriage, means for selectively setting said stop devices into active or inactive positions, said means embodying two members disposed in close proximity to each other and slidable one with respect to the other, a finger carried by each member, said fingers being spaced one above the other and adapted to respectively engage predetermined stops for actuating them, resilient means tending normally to slide said members with respect to each other in directions to separate the fingers, there being elongated slots in said members, an actuating bar extending into the slots, said resilient means operating to cause opposite ends of the slots to simultaneously contact said actuating bar, and an operating key operatively connected to said actuating bar and operative to move it into a plurality of different positions, one of said positions being a neutral position of said fingers with respect to said stops:

JAMES F. KOCA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 Number Name Date 1,270,892 Stanley July 2, 1918 2,099,011 Gabrielson et al. Nov. 16, 1937 2,386,480 Kupper Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Number Country Date 125,978 Great Britain of 1920 203,968 Switzerland of 1939 

